About TiLT

Ken Barbarick

Ken Barbarick

Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
C130 Plant Sciences
(970) 491-6394
Email: Ken.Barbarick@colostate.edu
Web:http://www.soilcrop.colostate.edu/ find_a_person/faculty/barbarick_intro.htm

Dr. Ken Barbarick, Professor of Soil Science, joined the Colorado State University faculty in 1979.  He currently teaches Introductory Soil Science and co-teaches Soils, Environment, and Society with Gary Peterson, Head of Soil and Crop Sciences.  He has also taught Soil Chemistry and Environmental Agronomy.

Dr. Barbarick’s primary goal is to make his large Introductory Soil Science course feel like a small-class experience.  Taking photos of the students and learning their names is the first step in the process. He routinely teaches 3 or 4 lab sections out of the 8 offered where he has personal contact with individual students.  Frequent exams based on behavioral objectives are one of his most effective tools; he gives 10 exams plus a final each semester to keep students on task.  He effectively uses humor to set students at ease.

Professor Barbarick feels strongly that well-designed laboratory sessions are crucial for introductory science courses.  To this end, 16 of his 73 refereed journal articles and book chapters deal with soil science education and 6 of the 16 teaching papers describe new lab exercises.

Ken has received several national awards including the USDA-NASULGC Food and Agriculture Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award (2004), Soil Science Education Award from the Soil Science Society of America (1991) and the Agronomic Resident Education Award from the American Society of Agronomy (1990).  He also has been selected as a Fellow in the Soil Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy, and the National Association of College and Teachers of Agriculture.

Teaching Awards and Recognitions

  • USDA-NASULGC Food and Agriculture Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award, Western Region, 2004 (National award)
  • University Distinguished Teaching Scholar, Colorado State University, 2001
  • Gamma Sigma Delta, CSU Chapter, Senior Faculty Award of Merit, 2000
  • ESCOP/ACOP Leadership Internship, 1993-94
  • Soil Science Society of America Fellow, 1992 (National award)
  • American Society of Agronomy Fellow, 1991 (National award)
  • Soil Science Education Award from Soil Science Society of America, 1991 (National award)
  • Agronomic Resident Education Award from American Society of Agronomy, 1990 (National award)
  • National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Teacher Fellow Award, 1988 (National award)
  • CIBA-GEIGY Award from American Society of Agronomy, 1987 (National award)
  • CSU Shepardson Faculty Teaching Award in College of Agriculture Sciences, 1984
  • Visiting Assistant Professor, Dept. of Agronomy and Soil Science, University of Hawaii, 1983
  • CSU Alumni Faculty Award for the College of Agricultural Sciences, 1982 (Teaching Award)
  • CSU Agronomy Club Outstanding Professor Award, 1981, 1984, 1995, 2001
  • CSU Shepardson Graduate Student Teaching Award in College of Agricultural Sciences, 1978

Current Teaching Activities

Currently, he teaches Introductory Soil Science (SC240) and team teaches Soils, Environment, and Society (S381) with Dr. Gary Peterson.